Heisler Park
Laguna Beach, CA
Heisler Park is a landscaped blufftop park with paths down to Picnic Beach below, tidepools scattered along the rocky shoreline, and some of the best views in Laguna Beach without having to go down to the sand at all. It's a genuine gathering spot for the whole town, not just a pass-through on the way to the water.
A genuine town gathering place with real tidepools and some of the best sunset views in Laguna, worth it even without setting foot on sand.
How we score beachesSunset here is a real local ritual, the blufftop paths fill up with people watching the light change over the water.
Metered parking near the park.
Paved paths run through the park with ramps down to Picnic Beach.
Leashed dogs are allowed in Heisler Park and its coves before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. from June 15 to September 10, and during longer hours the rest of the year, but off leash dogs are never permitted on the beach.
Orange County's water takes until late summer to really warm up, climbing into the low 70s by September.
More Pacific Coast beaches
Zuma Beach
Malibu, CA · Pacific Coast
A wide stretch of sand backed by the Santa Monica Mountains, with reliable swells that draw surfers year-round and plenty of room to spread out even on busy weekends.
Huntington City Beach
Huntington Beach, CA · Pacific Coast
Known as Surf City USA, with a mile-long municipal pier, consistent breaks for surfers of every level, and a laid-back boardwalk scene along Pacific Coast Highway.
Main Beach
Laguna Beach, CA · Pacific Coast
Tucked between rocky headlands, with tidepools to explore at low tide, calmer coves for swimming, and an arts-town backdrop of galleries and cafes just steps from the sand.